Line selector for typewriters



Dec. 12, 1933. K 1,939,197

LINE SELECTOR FOR TYPEWRITERS Filed April 17, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet l 5 1102 560A WM /4//y.

Dec. 12, 1933. F. BECK LINE SELECTOR FOR TYPEWRITERS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 In Me [or fia/rz 566K fif/y.

Filed April 17, 1933 Dec. 12, 1933.

F. BECK 1,939,197

LINE SELECTOR FOR TYPEWRITERS Filed April 17, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Dec. 12, I933 uNirso STATES 1,939,197 LINE ssrncron son TYPEWRITERS' Franz Beck, Erfurt, Germany, assignor toEuropa Schreibmas'chinen A. G., Erfurt, Germany Application April 1'7, 1933, Serial No. 666,622, and;

H in Germany June 5, 1931 My invention relates to a line selector for typewriters, i. e., to a device which independently of the normal line spacer, arrests the platen at any line the operator selects.

Devices'of this'kind have already been suggested and are equipped with a rotarymember having dogs adapted to cooperate with a fixed check on the platen carriageand with an operating lever for rotating the member together with the platen. The old devices, however, are so simple 'as to be unsatisfactory, and it is an object of my invention to provide a more elaborate selector in which the dogs are moved into active position, and retracted therefrom, with the same case and rapidity as in a typewriter having a tabulator equipment for typing columns.

To this end, in a preferred embodiment of my invention, I-provide a single circular row of dogs on the rotary member or setting whee1, in combination with a controlling key for moving the'dogs into active position.

The diameter of the setting wheel is so determined thatit houses as many grooves, each with a dog mounted to slide or to rotate therein, as

there are lines on the largest-sized sheet to be typed. As the smaller sizes of sheets are standardized so that each smaller size is one-half of the next larger size, all sizes of sheetscan be typed continuously on a machine to which my novel selector is applied.

In the drawings affixed to this specification and forming part thereof a selector embodying my invention is illustrated diagrammatically by way of example.

In the drawings 7 Fig. 1 is an end elevation of the selector, viewed from the outer side of the typewriting machine to which it is attached, with the setting wheel removed,

Fig. 215 a section on the line 11-11 in Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the selector, viewed from the inner side of the machine,

Fig. 4. is an elevation, and v Fig. 5 is a plan view, of a mechanism for arresting those dogs which have been moved into active position on the setting wheel,

Fig. 6 is an end elevation showing a detail,

Fig. 7 is apartend elevation showing the mechanism in the position in which it engages a dog,

and i Fig. 8 is an end elevation, viewed from-the outer side of the machine, like Fig. 1, with parts removed and broken away and showingthe mechanism in its inactive position with respect to the dogs.

Claims. (Cl. 13l-114) secured on the boss of the spur gear 4.

, Referring now to the drawings, and first to" Figs. 1 and 2, the casing 1 ofthe selector maybe cast integral with the corresponding side wall of. the carriage in which the platen 2 is mounted, and is closed by an end plate 111 at its open side. A tubular selector shaft 16 is mounted to rotate in a bearing 21 with its inner end, the bearing 21 being inserted in a hole of the carriage sidewall 1 and held by a flange. The outer end of the tubular shaft 16 is mounted to rotate in the end plate 111 from which it projects for the reception of a scale disk 48. A push rod 19 is mounted to slide in the hollow tubular shaft 16 and operated by a handle 18, 14 being a return spring for the handle and the push rod, and 15 being a spring plate on the shaft 16 which serves as an abutment for the inner end of the spring. The push rod 19 base. thicirer portion 124 which fits the bore of the shaft 16. Otherwise, the push rod is spaced from the inner wall of the shaft. The reaction at the spring 14 applies a shoulder near the inner end of the hollow shaft 16 to a thrust washer 1'7 on the outer end of the bearing 21.

A spur gear 4 is mounted to rotate-on a stepped portion of the bearing 21, and 3 is a pinion on the shaft of the platen 2 which meshes with the spur gear l, as shown in Fig. 2. A ratchet wheel 5 is T ratchet wheel has a central hole whose inside diameter is substantially equal to the outsidediameter of the thrustwasher 17. An operating lever 6 is mounted to turn on the boss of the spur gear between the teeth of the spur gear and the ratchet wheel 5. A pawl '7 is fulcrumed on the operating lever at '77, Fig.

When the operating lever 6 is turned inthe direction of the arrow 15in Fig. 1, the ratchet wheel 5 is entrained by the pawl 7 and rotates the spur gear 4, the pinion 3 and the platen 2. Fig. 1 shows the operating lever 6 at the cent-re of its forward stroke. The forwardv stroke oi the lever is limited by a check i6 which is shown as aneccentric sleeve for exact adjustment, and its rearward stroke is limited by a check 45 or buffer, of rubber or .the like, on the casing 1. The check or buffer 45 deadens the'noise oi": the operating lever returning into its initial position. As the buffer must be adjusted in conformity with the other ad;- justable members, it is secured on a curved support 126 which is held on the casing 1 by screws 6 by a cable 43, pulls the lever 6 into engagement with the check 45.

A setting wheel 9 is seated on the tubular shaft 16 and applied to a shoulder on the shaft by a nut 91, and 10 are selector dogs in the setting wheel 9. There are as many dogs in the setting wheel as there are lines on the longest sheet to be typed on. The dogs are mounted to slide in grooves of the setting wheel parallel to its 'axis and are retained in radial direction by a sleeve 92 which is placed over the outer ends of radial grooves the dogs slide in. Springs 28 are placed on the inner face of the wheel rim, and their free ends are curved into cams for engaging in recesses 93 of the dogs, as shown at the top of Fig. 2. The inner ends of the springs 28 are held by a ring 94 which is secured tothe body of the setting wheel by screws 95. As mentioned, the dogs may be mounted to turn on the wheel 9.

An annular dog-controlling lever 29 is mounted to rock about trunnions in the spacer casing 1 and at its lower end has a tooth 96 for engaging the dog 10 which is opposite the tooth.

The upper end of the lever 29 is connected to a controlling rod 32, with a key plate 31 and a spring 97 which tends to move the controlling rod 32 toward the outer side-of the machine, moving the tooth 96 away from the dogs 10, as shown in Fig. 2. V

The ratchet wheel 5 and the setting wheel 9 are equipped with a clutch having clutching e the spring 24.

thrown-out position.

members 11 and a conical cam 13 which is mounted to slide on the tubular shaft 16 for operating the clutching members 11. The members 11 are best seen in Fig. -l where the setting wheel has been removed. This figure shows the ratchet wheel 5 and the thrust washer 17 as viewed from the right in Fig. 2. The clutching members 11 are fulcrumed on the ratchet wheel 5 at 112 and equipped with serrated jaws 113 for engaging corresponding serrations'of a hollow cylinder 98 on the setting wheel 9, Fig. 2. The cam 13 is connected to the thickened inner end 124 of the push rod 19 by a pin 20 which is mounted to slide in slots of the tubular shaft 16. The spring 14, by moving the handle 18 away from the plate 15, throws in the clutch. The clutch is thrown out by moving the handle 18 inwardly.

A catch is provided for locking the push rod 19 in its clutching position, as will now be described. The catch has two arms 22 which are fulcrumed in the bearing 21 at 23, and 24 is a spring which holds the free ends of the catch arms engaged. The inner end of the push rod has a pointed andtapered head 125, as best seen in Fig. 2, and when the push rod is moved inwardly by the handle 18 the head 125 forces apart the catch arms 22 and is caughtby the arms engaging behind it under the reaction of The clutch is now held in its For throwing in the clutch by releasing the arms 22 a slide 25 is provided in the casing 1 which may be depressed by hand at any time, and is operated automatically by the operating lever 6 when the lever strikes, the adjustable eccentric 46 at the end of its active stroke, i. e. in its final position. The operating lever 6 has a slot 66 in which is mounted to slide a pin 27 with a clamping nut 69, and 26 is a dog which I is secured to the pin 27. This dog 26, whose position in the slot 66 can be varied by displacing the pin 27, cooperates with a camming face 67 on the slide 25. When the slide 25 is moved form, say, a letter.

inwardly by hand or by the dog 26, its wedged inner end forces apart the catch arms 22 against the action of the spring 24, the head 125 at the inner end of the rod 19 is released and the spring 14 throws in the clutch members 11. The slide 25 is automatically returned into its initial position by the free ends of the catch arms 22 acting on its wedge faces as the arms are pulled together by the spring 24.

The mechanism for arresting the dogs 10 and for locking them against throwing back, will now be described. The mechanism is supported by a bracket 39 which is secured to the casing 1 by three screws, as best seen in Figs. 1 and 8. A bellcrank locking pawl 34, 115 is fulcriuned on the bracket 39 at 35. A support 38 is mounted to rock about the pivot 35 of the locking pawl 34, 115, as best seen in Fig. 4, and an arresting pawl 33 is fulcrumed on the support at 37, 36 being a spring by which the two pawls are connected. A

check 42 is provided on the support 38 for the arm 115 of the locking pawl, and a check 41 is provided on the bracket 39 for the straight vertical edge 116 of the support 38. The support 38 has a horse-shoe-shaped rearward extention 117, with an edge 118 at its upper end. A spring 40 is anchored on the horseshoe 117 at 119 and its other end is attached to the bracket 39 at 120, so that the spring 40 holds the edge 116 of the support engaged with the check 41 on the bracket 39. The check 41 also limits the movement of the arresting pawl 33 toward the right in Fig. 1.

The pawl 7 on the operating lever 6 has an outwardly extending tooth 78 at its free end which, when the operating lever 6 is moved toward the buffer 45, engages the edge 118 of the horseshoe 117 and pushes it aside while the body of the pawl '7 holds the edge118 in this position, as shown in Fig. 8. Obviously, the support 38 partakes in this movement. The pawl 7 is thrown out of the teeth of the ratchet wheel by an adjustable bolt 47 when the operating lever has struck the buffer 45.

The means for indicating the position of the setting wheel 29 outside the casing 1 will now be described, The scale disk 48 on the outer end of the tubular shaft 16 has already been referred to. It is mounted to slide on, but held against rotation with respect to, the shaft 16 and bears a scale for the standard pitch of the lines and a pointer 121 on an annulus 50. The annulus is mounted to turn onthe scale disk 48 to which it is applied under slight pressure by a washer 51, and 122 is a handle for turning the annulus and placing the pointer 121 on the first line of a given A fixed pointer 49 for cooperation with the scale disk 48 is secured to the end plate 111 of the casing 1.

.The scale disk 48 also serves as a wiping key. A screw 52 by which the disk is held against rota tion with respect to the shaft 16 projects through a slot in the shaft, and 53 is a sleeve which is mounted to slide on the reduced portion of the push. rod 19 between the rod and the tubular shaft, and is entrained by the screw 52 when the scale disk 48 is shifted. The inner end of the sleeve 53 bears on a pair of bars 56 which project through slots in the tubular shaft 16 and are secured to the wiper 54. The wiper is mounted loosely on the tubular shaft in the manner of 1. direction ofthearrow in Fig. 1 1 adjustable eccentric stop 46 in erated for throwing pointer 121, and

, responds 1,659,167 so that the disk moves with thehandle. To this end, the screw 56 by which the springplate 15 is secured on the shaft 16, is extended inwardly and projectsinto, aslot of which the handle 18 is secured on 19, so that the scale disk 48 handle 18. 7'

The operation of my lows:

For a form the push rod is entrained by the novel selector is as folof a givenlsize, the handle 18 is op-- out the clutch by displac-- ing the cam 13, described, compressingthe spring 14. is now set on the scale disk48 by means or the A sheet is now placed on normally is held against the buffer 45 by its spring case 44 is moved from its initialp'osition in the until it strikes the its final position. By turning the eccentric stop 46, the final or for ward position of the operating lever 6 is exactly determined and varied as may be required. Its final position is determined by displacing the support 126 for the buffer 45. The operating lever entrains the ratchet wheel 5, the spur gear 4 and the pinion 3 of the platen 2, when moving towards its final position but does not influence the setting wheel 9 as the clutch is still thrown out. The platen 2 is now rotated as far as corto the first line of the form to be typed, for instance, the heading of a letter. 'When'the operating lever is in its final or forward posi tion the dog 27 on the lever strikes the camming face 67 on the slide and throws out the arms 2 by which the head 125 on 'the inner end of the push rod 19 is retained, so that thespring 14 expands and throws in the clutch. The operating lever is returned into its initialposition by the rested bythe buffer 45.

The dogs 10 corresponding to lines at which immediately arrested by the arresting pawl 33,

while the locking pawl 34 under the action or the spring 36, engages behind the dog on the opposite side, preventing backward movement of the setting wheel 9 under the action of any inertia or other forces which might occur.. The

setting wheel 9 is now held against movement in both directions. When the operating lever 6 after having been released, is jerked back against the buffer 45 by the spring in the casing 44, the pawl 7 strikes the edge 118 with its tooth 78 so that the support 38 is moved down, as shown in Fig. 8, the two pawls 33 and 34 move out of on the edge 118. When 7 arrived in its initial position against the buffer45,

operation, the pawl ratchet wheel 5.

the path of the dogs 10 altogether and are held in this position by the body of the pawl bearing the operating lever 6 has the free end of the pawl '7 strikes the screw 47 and is thrown out of the teeth of the ratchet wheel,

permitting the wheel and the platen to be rotated backwards as desired. When the operatinglever 6 is pulled toward its final position for thenext 7 moves away from the screw 4' 7 and re-enga ges in thete eth ofQthe the tubularboss 123 by x v all dogs 10 "which The first line of the form to be typed the pointer l2l and the line it V marks on the scale disk 48 are placed in line with v the fixed pointer 49. l the platen 2 and the operating lever 6. which H first line of the heading 1 will occur to At thesame timefth e edge 118 is released by the pawl and thesupport' 381eturns irito its initial position under the action of sp ring 40, its pawls 33, 34 being'now' ready for engaging the next dog 10. The only operations required are the lever 6 andthe operation of the controlling'rod 32 by the key'plate'til. -By meansof the wiper 54, have been advanced into active position, are 'returned'to initial position together.

It will appear that by connecting the operating lever. 6 to the platen in the manner described, i. e. "by using the operating lever not only'for selecting lines but "also for feeding'the platen handling of the operating and,,in particular, for moving the platen into position ,for the'firstline of the letter heading or I the like, it is possible to type hot'only endless sheets such as fan or roll forms but a'lsoindividual sheets. The platenfe'ed required for the is 'set on the scale disk 48 in the manner described. The operation of the scale disk and the pointers" 49, 121 isifacilitated if grooves for the reception of the pointers are formed in the perimeter of thescale disk "48 instead of lines.

The selector, by its improved design, provides -a device which does 7 not in any way interie're with the normal line spacing, as performed usually in writing letters" etc., so that it may be adapted to' any existing typewriter while at the same time operating as rapidly and reliably'as a tabulator key.

I wishit to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the exact details of construction shown and described for obvious modifications a person skilled in the art.

In the claims. afiixed 'to this specification no selection of any particular modification of 'the invention is intended'to the exclusion of other modifications thereof,

I claim:-

1. In a line selector for typewriters a platen,

means for rotating said platen, a rotary setting wheel operatively connected to said means, movable dogs on said setting wheel, mecha'nism adapted to engage said dogs for arresting said setting wheel, and a control 'for placing said dogs selectively into active position with respect to said mechanism.

2. In a line selector for typewriters a platen, means for rotating said platen, a rotary setting wheeloperatively connected to said means, movable dogs on said setting wheel, mechanism v adapted to engage said dogs for arresting said setting wheel, a locking member forming part of said mechanism for preventing the throwingbackof arrested dogs, and a control for placing said dogs selectively into active position with,

respect to said mechanism.

3. In a line selector for typewriters a platen, means for rotating said platen, a rotary setting wheel operatively connected to said means, movable dogs on said setting wheel, mechanism said dogs selectively into active position with respect to said mechanism.

4. a line selector for typewriters a platen, means for rotating saidiplaten, a rotary setting wheel, aclutch for. operatively connecting said platen-rotating means V and the right to" subse quently make claim to any modification not covered by these claims is expressly reserved.

spring in the case 44 as soon as released, and ar- 7 to said setting" wheel,

means for throwing in and. out said. clutch, movable dogs on said setting wheel, mechanism adapted to engage said dogs for arresting said setting wheel, and a control for placing said dogs selectively into active position; with respect to said mechanism..

7 5. In a line. selector for typewriters a platen, means for rotating said platen, a rotary setting wheel, a clutch for "operatively connecting said platen-rotating means to said setting wheel, means for throwing in and out said clutch, a catch for locking said clutch in its thrown-out position, means operatively connected to said platen-rotating means for disengaging said catch, automatic means for moving said clutch into its thrown-in position after the catch has been disengaged, movable dogs on said setting wheel, mechanism adapted to engage said dogs 'dogs into their initial position.

7. In a line selector for typewriters a platen, means for rotating said platen, a rotary setting wheel operatively connected to said means, movable dogs on said setting wheel arranged in a single, circular row, mechanism adapted to engage said dogs for arresting said setting wheel, and a controlling key for placing said dogs selectively into active position with respect to said mechanism. a

8. In a line selector for typewriters, a platen,

an operating lever, a ratchet mechanism posi tively connected to said lever and to said. platen, a rotary setting wheel, means for temporarily connecting said ratchet mechanism to said setting wheel, movable dogs on said setting wheel, mechanism adapted to engage said dogs for arresting said setting wheel, and a control for placing said dogs selectively into active position with respect to said mechanism. a

9. In a line selector for typewriters, a platen,

an operating lever, a ratchet pawl fulcrumed on said lever, a ratchet wheeladapted to be operated by said pawl, a rotary setting wheel, means for temporarily connecting said ratchet wheel to said setting wheel, automatic means for disconnecting said pawl from said ratchet wheel in the initial position of saidoperating lever, movable dogs on said setting wheel, mechanism adapted to engage said dogs for arresting said setting wheel, and a control for placing said dogs selectively into active positionwith respect to said mechanism.

10. In a line selector for typewriters, a platen,

an operating lever, a rotary setting wheel, a

clutch for-operatively connecting said lever to said setting wheel, spring means for throwing in said clutch, a spring catch for holding said clutch in its thrown-out position, means for disengaging said spring catch in the initial position of said operating lever, movable dogs on said setting wheel, mechanism adapted to engage said dogs for arresting said setting wheel, and a control for placing said dogs selectively into active position with respect tosaid mechanism.

11. In a line selector .for typewriters, a platen,

an operating lever, a rotary setting wheel, a clutch for operatively connecting said lever to said setting wheel, spring means for throwing in said clutch, a spring catch for holding'said clutch in its thrown-out position, a slide for disengaging said spring catch, a camming face on said slide, a dog on said operating lever adapted to engage said camming face so as to move said slide into disengaging position with respect to said catch, movable dogs on said setting wheel, mechanism adapted to engage said dogs for arresting said setting wheel, and a control for placing said dogs selectively into active position with respect to said mechanism.

12. In a line selector for typewriters, a platen,

an operating lever, a rotary setting wheel, a

clutch for operatively connecting said lever to said setting wheel, spring means for throwing in said clutch, a spring catch for holding said clutch in its thrown-out position, a slide for disengaging said spring catch, a camming face on said slide, a dog on said operating lever adapted to engage said camming face so as to move said slide into disengaging position with respect to said catch, an extension on said slide for manually operating it, movable dogs on said setting" wheel, mechanism adapted to engage said dogs for arresting said setting wheel, and a control for placing said dogs selectively into active position with respect to said mechanism.

13. In a line selector for typewriters, a platen, an operating lever for rotating said platen, a rotary setting wheel, means for operatively connecting said setting wheel to said operating lever,

movable dogs on said setting wheel, a locking and an arresting pawl adapted to engage opposite sides of said dogs, and a control for placing said dogs selectively into position to be engaged by said pawls.

p 14. In a line selector for typewriters, a platen, an operating lever for rotating said platen, a rotary setting wheel, means for operatively connecting said setting wheel to said operating lever, movable dogs on said setting wheel, a locking and an arresting pawl adapted to engage opposite sides of said dogs, a control for placing said dogs selectively into position to be engaged by said pawls, and means on said operating lever for moving said pawls out of the path of said dogs.

15. In a line selector for typewriters, a platen, an operating lever for rotating said platen, a rotary setting wheel, means for operatively connecting said setting wheel to said operating lever, movable dogs on said setting wheel, a locking and an arresting pawl adapted to engage opposite sides of said dogs, a control for placing said dogs selectively into position to be engaged by said pawls, means on said operating lever for moving said pawls out of the path of said dogs, means for applying said pawls to each other after they have been moved out of said path, and means for returning said pawls to their initial position after they have been released by said means on said operating lever.

1.6. Ina line selector for typewriters, a platen, an operating lever for rotating said platen, a rotary setting wheel, means for operatively connecting said setting wheel to said operating lever, movable dogs on said setting wheel, mechanism adapted to engage said dogs for arresting said setting wheel, a control for placing said dogs selectively into active position with respect to said mechanism, a wiper for returning said dogs into their initial position, a scale disk for operating said wiper, and means operatively connected to said scale disk for setting said platen to a given line.

17. In a line selector for typewriters, a platen, an operating lever, a rotary setting wheel, a clutch for operatively connecting said lever to said setting wheel, movable dogs on said wheel, mechanism adapted to engage said dogs for arresting said setting wheel, a control for placing said dogs selectively into active position with respect to said mechanism, a handle for controlling said clutch, a scale disk operatively connected to said handle, a wiper for returning said dogs into their initial position which wiper is adapted to be operated by said scale disk, and means operatively connected to said scale disk for setting said platen to a given line.

18. In a line selector for typewriters, a platen, means for rotating said platen, a rotary setting wheel operatively connected to said means, movable dogs on said setting wheel whose number is equal to the number of lines on the largestsized sheet to be typed, and which dogs are arranged in a single, circular row, mechanism adapted to engage said dogs for arresting said setting wheel, and a controlling key for placing said dogs selectively into active position with respect to said mechanism.

19. In a line selector for an operating lever for rotating said platen, a rotary setting wheel, means for operatively connecting said setting wheel to said operating lever, movable dogs on said setting wheel, an adjustable check for arresting said operating lever in its final position, mechanism adapted to engage said dogs for arresting said setting wheel, and a control for placing said dogs selectively into active position with respect to said mechanism.

20. In a line selector for typewriters, a platen, an operating lever for rotating said platen, a rotary setting wheel, means for operatively connecting said setting wheel to said operating lever, movable dogs on said setting wheel, an adjustable check for arresting said operating lever in its final position, an adjustable bufier for arresting the operating lever in its initial position, mechanism adapted to engage said dogs for arresting said setting wheel, and a control for placing said dogs selectively into active position with respect to said mechanism.

FRANZ BECK.

typewriters, a platen, V 

